Silence descends on Bali on Hindu holy day

I Wayan Juniartha, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar

Following another year of busy daily activity, Bali, the country's most popular tourist destination, turned eerily silent and peaceful during the observance of the Day of Silence (Nyepi) on Saturday, also a national holiday.

All activities on the resort island, including public services, were halted as local people retreated from their daily activities and stayed home or walked to temples in a tradition said to create harmony with God and the world.

Thousands of tourists visiting the famed island stayed in their hotels as a show of respect for the religious observance.

According to tradition, Hindus are prohibited from lighting any sort of fire, turning on lights, working, traveling or engaging in physical activity until 6 a.m. on Sunday.

Thousands of Hindus in Yogyakarta, Central Java and East Java also observed the day.

Hindus are allowed to resume their daily activities on Sunday after the ritual burning of the Ogoh-Ogoh puppets in a ceremony which symbolizes the destruction of evil spirits.

Despite the quiet calm on Saturday, several people were injured, a total of 10 shops were vandalized and 15 vehicles were either damaged or burned on Friday evening in two separate brawls that took place during the Ogoh-Ogoh parades.

At least four people were injured in the incidents that occurred during a tradition in which the Ogoh-Ogoh are paraded through the streets to mark the beginning of the celebration.

The first incident took place in Bualu subdistrict, some 20 kilometers outside of Denpasar when brawling crowds ran amok and ended up damaging 10 shops and four motorbikes.

The second street brawl occurred in Abian Semal district in Badung regency, leaving four people injured. At least one person sustained severe burns while the others suffered minor wounds.

At least three cars and four motorbikes were vandalized in the melee, while four other motorbikes were torched.

Denpasar Police Detective chief Comr. Budi Wasono said that both incidents flared from minor misunderstandings between crowds from different villages attending the parade.